Black Lives Matter Protesters Loot Businesses, Set Fires in Seattle

Seattle Police officers hold weapons as they stand guard outside the East Precinct Buildin
AP Photo/Ted S. Warren
Penny Starr

Video on social media shows protesters linked to Black Lives Matter rioting in Seattle on Sunday, including smashing windows and looting an Amazon store while protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for detaining illegal migrants.

“Large crowd continuing to march on Pike Street from downtown,” Seattle police posted on Twitter on Sunday. “Two individuals were arrested outside of the West Precinct. Demonstrators threw rocks, bottles and other items at officers. At least one officer has been transported to the hospital.”

The local Fox affiliate reported on the riot: 

Police say a peaceful protest started about 10:30 a.m. Sunday, but three hours later, a second group showed up carrying baseball bats. The second group began marching on Fifth Avenue, breaking windows and tagging buildings with paint along the way.

They vandalized SPD headquarters and Seattle Municipal Court before targeting downtown businesses and marching to the West Precinct, where they tried to break in but were thwarted by officers. Someone or a group threw large fireworks at police, injuring multiple officers and sending one to the hospital.

Police used pepper spray and blast balls to stop the assault on officers and arrested two people near the West Precinct. The group – which police called organized and intent on causing property damage – eventually broke up at Cal Anderson Park.

“These are criminal acts, not peaceful protests,” the police said.

A worker clears glass from broken windows at the Starbucks Roastery in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Protesters broke windows at the store earlier in the afternoon. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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